The House Sitting Lifestyle

Just as I’ve become a hiker in my sixties so I’ve also become a house sitter – both are things I never saw myself doing when I looked into my future during my earlier years.

In my 20s, 30s and even 40s I’d thought my future was pretty much mapped out – children grow up, leave home, retirement with the husband and some traveling around Australia and the UK in a camper van.

Well, the children did grow up and leave home and so did I (grow and leave home, without the husband) and there’s certainly been travel but not of the kind I’d foreseen.

And then I made a few changes to my lifestyle.

So as I said not only did the hiker in me emerge in recent years but I’ve found a new way of living, by becoming a house sitter.

And I’m certainly not alone in this, there’s a growing trend amongst my generation to house sit our way around the world. Some do it as couples, some as singles, some do it for the flexibility, some for the savings to be made on accommodation and some love the chance to look after other people’s pets when they’re not in a position to have their own.

Poster girl Tillie

The very aloof (and proud of her tail) Wuschi

As I write this I’ve been house sitting for nearly 9 months and the novelty certainly hasn’t worn off, in fact I’ve settled into the lifestyle quite comfortably.

Why take up house sitting?

Financial freedom

My main motivator initially was financial. A way of living that took away some of the major costs in my life – mortgage, rates etc., allowed me to save a little for travel and at the same time gave me the freedom to explore different areas of my own city. I needed to stay within a reasonable distance of family while my elderly dad was around.

The cost savings for me are evident, I have no rent or mortgage to pay, no electricity bills etc and generally free wifi (the important one for me). There are still some costs obviously, food, petrol, car registration and maintenance and for me the cost of a small storage unit to store the things that I didn’t want to get rid of when I sold the house.

Most home owners do not ask the sitter to pay any of the costs (there may be some negotiation for a long term sit), it’s a reciprocal agreement where both parties benefit. The home owner doesn’t have the costs associated with putting pets in kennels, the pets are much happier in their own environment and there is the security of someone being in the house while they’re away.

Although the financial benefit was probably the main motivating factor in my initial decision to house sit, it was by no means the only factor.

Flexibility

Flexibility comes in two ways when house sitting.

You gain flexibility, house sitting gives you the opportunity to live in and experience different suburbs, different states and even different countries, the flexibility to wander where you will and if you’re in the position of being able to then this is a definite bonus.

The first thing I do as I’m driving to a new sit in an unfamiliar area is keep my eyes open for the local cafes – coffee and cafes and writing in cafes is my thing and I love finding new and quirky cafes or cafes with a view or a special ambience.

But you also need to be flexible. I’ve had house sitters ask me how I manage to keep fully booked and tell me that they struggle to get house sits, but then they go on to say ‘for the date I want in the area I want.’ Unfortunately that’s never going to work quite as well. So if you’re looking at house sitting as a way of getting cheap accommodation for your annual holiday and you want to go to a particular place then you’ll be lucky if it works out.

Be open to the sits that present themselves.

I’ve looked after two beautiful cats in a lovely modern home with a theatre room to lose myself in, a bath that would fit two of me, a plunge pool and relaxing outdoor area plus a kitchen with a complete array of gadgets. I’ve lived in an open plan hanger type home with a pantry as big as most kitchens, my desk on a mezzanine level, and watched the kangaroos graze only metres from the house in the country only 90 minutes from Perth and I’ve looked after the most beguiling little dog, Tilly, in an exclusive Perth suburb with a café 90 seconds from my front door.

And I’ve been asked back to all of those sits.

But I’ve also done sits in older style homes where I’ve felt really comfortable and very much at home. Houses with outdoor areas with foliage that’s taken many years to get to its present ‘leafy calm oasis’ stage where I’ve been able to sit with my coffee and journal and watch the birds or listen to the trickle of the water in the pond.

A home doesn’t have to be new and shiny to be comfortable and welcoming, so be flexible and prepared to adapt.

Travel

You can house sit anywhere in the world and many house sitters do. It’s a perfect way of staying in amazing areas, often away from the normal tourist routes and live in the local community. You can chat to the neighbours, shop in the local supermarkets and even get involved in the neighbourhood activities – dog walking is an ideal way of meeting people.

Visit the local cafes like the Mill Cafe in York

There are many house sitters who have managed to organise sits around the world and tick off many off their bucket list destinations.

I have plans afoot for next year to house sit in the UK and Europe for a few months and from there, who knows where I’ll get to.

Lifestyle

If you work online this could be the perfect lifestyle for you or you could be incorporating house sitting in your retirement plans or maybe you’re saving for a deposit on your own home. There are many and varied reasons for house sitting and a change of lifestyle is often one of the prime motivators.

Work from places like this.

You can house sit in the country, the city or on the coast, there are home owners in all types of areas looking for someone to take the burden of empty houses and lonely pets from them while they’re away.

Tips

Always try and meet the home owner before you take on a sit, and have a look around the house. Even if you’re trying to book somewhere too far away for a personal meet up, get on Skype and have a chat.

If something doesn’t feel right or you don’t gel with the owner … and the pet … say no to the sit.

If you’re considering a sit of more than a few weeks, think it through, it’s a big commitment and if you’re not happy in the house or area a long sit can become a chore.

Treat the house with the utmost respect and always leave it as you found it, if not better.

Stick to the pets’ normal routine, don’t expect them to adjust to yours.

What next?

So if you’re interested and keen to know more about how it all works there are several websites dedicated to connecting homeowners and their pets with house sitters. I mainly use Aussie House Sitters and Mindahome but there are other reliable sites out there too.

Share this:

Like this:

16 Comments

I really enjoyed reading your post Pam, you sound as if you’re really enjoying the lifestyle. I admire your can do attitude! We’ve just left home for a 3 month holiday overseas and have left the house in the capable hands of a friend. It makes going away so much easier knowing someone is living in your house. She’s excited to have the house for this time and we’re happy knowing it’s being looked after – win/win! All the best to you for the future.

Hey Chris, it’s certainly worth thinking about and as for pets on the bed, that’s a bit of a no no for me also. With the exception of gorgeous Tillie in the photo above, she took up no space at all and didn’t move the whole night 🙂

Hi Jennifer, if you’re looking for a house sitter and don’t know anyone you can join one of the house sitting sites and as a home owner it doesn’t cost you anything. And you’re right about the lifestyle

My sister owned a b and b in the wheatbelt of Western Australia, and my husband and I had amazing holidays looking after the property and guests. Loved the lifestyle and being pretend b and b managers.

What a great lifestyle! Today YOU are who I want to be when I grow up! I was much bolder in my younger days (BC – before children) when I lived in HK and Taiwan and, for now, am not in a position to take on this adventure – but I’ll keep it on my list of possibilities if I have another re-invention. For now, as my children are still in the move in/out stage of schooling, I have invited international high school students into our home for each academic year — and I’ve expanded my client base so as to include domestic travel within the U.S. for one-off Board strategy meetings and such.

Thanks Janet, it’s so lovely to think that I may be inspiring even just one person and you know, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. You’re already on the right track and there will come a time when you can think of YOU. All the best x

Hi Pam, great blog and my wife & I have recently started housesitting since November last year and have almost back to back housesits booked until March next year. We hope to start doing overseas sitting from then on.
We are currently sitting at the “Hanger” house in York that you sat previously.
Happy Travels

Hi Brian, lovely to hear from you, I hope you’re enjoying Talbot Brook as much as I did. I would have loved to go back there this time but my holiday coincides almost exactly with that of Regina & Stefan – I fly to the UK on Monday. Wish them well for me on their travels. I too have had back to back sits since I started last July, I think it’s a matter of respect and really caring about the pets and the homes that we look after. Give Wuschi, Mugli & Filu a scratch behind the ears for me 🙂

Great post, Pam. I think that house-sitting might be considered ‘travelling’ in the sense that you are discovering new and interesting places even in your home town or state. As a some-time travel writer, I think we can see things differently with a different mindset.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Please enter an answer in digits:

20 + 15 =

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Search for:

About Me

I’m Pam & I have to admit that I’m addicted to travel.
Travellingbag has been designed to inspire other travellers with an eclectic mix of travel tips, tricks and destinations.
Tag along with me, you never know where we’ll end up.